Tag: audiobooks

Who knew? May is short story month. Even the most casual reader likely has noticed the appearance of short story collections on various bestseller lists and individual stories offered up as e-book exclusives. Alice Munro, a specialist in the genre, won the 2013 Nobel Prize for Literature for the body of her work. Publishers are bringing out new compilations from classic short story writers, for example, Let Me Tell You, a new collection of short stories, essays and other writings by Shirley Jackson, was published last year on the 50th anniversary of her death.

If you aren’t already reading or listening to short stories, you really should give them a try. A small collection, by a single author or many, easily fits into whatever tote, briefcase or bag you may carry. And while War and Peace is ill-suited for reading on your phone, short stories are the perfect small bite when you just want to read NOW or while waiting at the MVA, or the doctor’s office, or the train station, or…. you get the idea. Some are even available as audiobooks.

Many find reading short stories different from reading a novel. The author must set the stage, flesh out the characters and reveal the plot in a few short pages. The ending must be clear, even if intended as a cliffhanger. Some authors have characters reappear throughout a collection, or link the stories through locale or theme. While it is a different experience, it is a fine way to get a feel for an unfamiliar author.

Podcasts are a fine way to listen to a variety of authors and readers. One of the best known is Selected Shorts from PRI. Each week, some of the finest actors in American theater read two or more stories during the hour-long podcast. The stories may be by the same author or connected thematically. For those unfamiliar with podcasts, click above to test it out. You may hear an old favorite or discover a new author to add to your reading list.

Neil Gaiman, a writing juggernaut for all ages and genres, has a variety of his stories available in audio and electronic versions at no charge at OpenCulture.com. Another favorite source of unexpected short stories is One Story, a nonprofit organization that publishes and promotes the short story and authors who write them. Subscriptions are available in print (pocket-sized) or for the Kindle or iOS device. A perfect small bite delivered every few weeks, in your preferred format.

Independent bookstores are great resources for all things book. Powell’s in Portland, OR, has put together a list of short story titles from some of the greatest authors, from James Joyce to Jhumpa Lahiri to Etgar Keret and David Foster Wallace. There is something for almost every taste.

Having taken the opportunity to highlight the genre, watch for reviews of several short story collections in the next few months.

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Is it the story or the storyteller? I’ve just completed a three-month trial with Audible.com. Selecting titles was harder than expected. Unlike picking a book off the shelf, choosing an audiobook involves the content and the reader. And can those readers differ. I sampled a few titles I am itching to read in the hope they’d fit the bill. What I discovered is that tone, cadence and pacing all factor into the audiobook experience. In the sampling process you don’t always have the chance to hear how the reader handles different characters/voices, a critical feature in experiencing the story. As a result, there were several titles I immediately dismissed in this format. There are many people who only “read” via audiobooks. I’m not there and suspect I will only dabble in this medium. But for those are unable to view the written word or prefer listening, there are readers who truly elevate an author’s story. Continue reading Audiobook review: The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah

It used to be so simple. Hardback or paperback. Own or borrow or library copy. Not so easy anymore. Next week a book group I coordinate will be discussing The Paris Architect by Charles Belfoure (Sourcebooks Landmark). A friend asked to borrow a paper copy, which I used to have. It had long since been loaned out and then replaced with an ebook before another discussion in January (see post) since my “real” copy had never made it back home and the library continues to have a substantial waiting list .